Author: Pearl Church Admin

This month we are commemorating Oyasama’s 133rd Anniversary since Her withdrawal from physical life. That’s why it’s called the January Grand Service rather than monthly service.

In the events leading to Oyasama’s physical “withdrawal” the followers were confronted with the dilemma of following Oyasama’s direction to perform the service and the threat of Her arrest if they did perform service due to government persecution.

Oyasama then explained the order of the universe and the followers were then able to be resolved in following Her wish to perform the service.

With the same resolve, please join us in performing the Salvation Service for the Joyous Life World.

On this day, as granted to this church, we have gathered here to conduct the October Grand Service to commemorate the Teachings’ day of origin.

As in the following words of God, “I am God of Origin, God in Truth. There is causality in this Residence. At this time I have descended here to save all humankind. I wish to receive Miki as the Shrine of God.” These were the first words declared by You, God the Parent, Tenri-O-no-Mikoto, through the mouth of Oyasama, Miki Nakayama.

That day was October 26, 1838. From that day on, through Oyasama, You appeared in person to teach us the one final truth, the truth that You are the true Creator and Parent of humankind. You taught us the Reason for our creation, which was from Your desire to have all humankind lead the Joyous Life, helping one another through the marvelous path of single-hearted salvation.
To attain this, You also taught us the Joyous Service with the intent to manifest once more, the marvelous power by which humankind and the world were created where there was no form. Through the sincere performance of this Service, the world will be reconstructed as the world of the Joyous Life, which is fully in accord with the intent of God the Parent.

Each of us here today, relying on You, intend to perform the Service in harmony and joy, becoming one with the mind of God. Please accept our spirited minds of unity and let the joy of the harmonious union of God and humankind overflow.

Through Your blessing, the Pearl Church Autumn Memorial Service was faithfully conducted on September 22 with 12 persons in attendance. The BGA General Meeting and Service Performance was held on the following day September 23 at MHQ of Hawaii with 10 persons from Pearl Church attending. The annual All Tenrikyo Nioigake Day was conducted on September 30 with 4 from Pearl Church. In addition, we have engaged in Kamina Nagashi in Waikiki with the Mission Headquarters group. We thank you deeply for your love and care and we pray for your continued guidance.

During these past weeks we have experienced hurricanes and earthquakes, in Japan, Philippines, Florida, Carolinas and here in Hawaii as well. As we pray for the victims, survivors and their families, please grant us compassion and resolve that we may always extend that helping hand.
With the Shinbashira as the core, we continue to engage in nioigake and salvation work.

May we, Your children, in this 181st year of Tenrikyo, come ever closer to understanding Your intentions, so that we may become “one” with You and manifest the Joyous Life as intended for all humanity.

Hurricane Harvey has caused massive flooding resulting in loss of life and property damage estimated in the billions.

Why does God allow this to happen? Where is God’s love in all this? Some people may say that this is part of God’s plan or God’s in control of everything. If God is all powerful why does God allow this to happen?

This and more as we pray for the victims of Hurricane Harvey and conduct the Service for Universal Salvation at Pearl Church

On April 29th, the All-Tenrikyo Hinokishin Day was held at the Honolulu Zoo. Of the many participants in the Oahu location, 9 people from Pearl Church participated in the event. After the event, Pearl Church participants enjoyed a chili, hot dog, and rice for lunch.

How can we live a happy and prosperous life? How can we improve our health and solve our problems? Find answers to questions like these and experience the true joy of life through attending the Spiritual Development Course. In the safe and nurturing environment of Mission Headquarters, you will:

learn the true purpose of life by helping one another and practicing the Teachings in actual situations

The Annual Tenrikyo Hawaii Boys & Girls Association Spring Camp & General Meeting was held last weekend from March 24th through the 27th. A total of 79 participating children plus approximately 30 adult volunteers helped at the highly successful camp.

Our annual Mini Bazaar & Rummage Sale is coming up this Sunday, April 2 from 8am to 12noon. Please come and join us!

Owen’s specialty homemade raisin and white bread. Very popular in the congregation.

The annual BGA Spring Camp is coming up this weekend on Friday – Sunday, March 24-26. Please help out whenever you can.

Our next Mini-bazaar and Rummage Sale is on the following weekend on Sunday, April 2nd from 8am-12noon. We will be needing help on Friday: setup canopies, signage, tables and merchandise, Saturday: Sorting and Pricing; Sunday: 7am help make spam musubi and cone sushi, 8am: cashiering (food and merchandise); help cashier add up purchases, bag or box items, sales (talk to the people, ask them how they heard about the rummage sale, spread aloha and goodwill, answering questions, help people make their purchase); help people carry their purchases to their car, etc.

A total of 7 members of Pearl Church helped run the Tenrikyo Pearl Church Bubble Drink booth which also featured a spur-of-the-moment Andagi sale as well at this year’s annual Jarrett Pride Day.

The event was a success given that we sold out on both bubble drinks and andagi, and the performances by the Jarrett Middle School Band, Ewa Makai Middle School Band, talent show participants, and ukulele clubs from other schools. There were also other games with prizes, a dunking booth, baked goods, food sales from local businesses, and Cultural booths.

Good morning. I would like to thank all of you for taking the time to attend the February Service here at Pearl Church and thank you for your kind and sincere offerings. I am sure God the Parent and Oyasama is really happy to see you all here today and to have performed the service with joy and in high spirits!

We have just completed the seated service and the twelve songs of the Teodori (hand dance), joyously. I was blessed with the opportunity to learn about the deep meaning of God the Parent’s parental heart, through this service. I would like to share with you some of my thoughts.

When we’re down and out, depressed, shaken to our core or traumatized by a recent incident, we need to take a step back, calm our nerves and reevaluate our priorities. Sometimes we are so shaken, we cannot function normally.

This is where our faith can carry us to overcome a tragedy or difficult situation and this is why having and practicing faith can lessen the impact.

In Tenrikyo performing the service and administering the Sazuke is central to our faith. It is the “fundamental means to salvation.” It answers the question of what is most important in our life!

To realize what’s important in our life, we need to first clean our spiritual lenses so we can see clearly what’s important and where we must go. That’s why the first verse in the service says, “Sweep away all ills and save us Tenri O no Mikoto.” We repeat it 21 times to make a thorough cleansing.

Announcements

Thank you for bringing your deposit cans and bottles for our fundraising drive. We are still continuing our fundraising efforts that will help to reduce airfare for prospective Besseki attendees.

Also thank you very much for helping at the BGA Leadership Camp and annual New Year Park Cleanup and BBQ Picnic held last month. Two adult volunteers from Pearl Church helped to conduct the camp and five helped at the park cleanup and BBQ picnic at Stadium Park. Thank you for volunteering your time to do Hinokishin in the community!

The annual Tenri Cultural Center cleanup is scheduled for President’s day, Monday, February 20 from 9am. Lunch will be served at 11am.

Our next Rummage sale will be on Sunday, April 2nd, from 8am-12noon. Please bring any items you wish to donate from today till two days before the sale. To those of you who’ve already donated items, thank you very much. Setup and pricing will on Saturday, the day prior.

The annual BGA Spring Camp and 42nd GM will be held next month on March 24-26, Friday-Sunday. We would like to ask for everyone’s hinokishin.
Please take advantage of these activities accomplish several tasks at one time:

Sweep away your mental dusts and further your spiritual growth.

Do nioigake by inviting friends and family.

Transmit the faith to the next generation.

Plant seeds of sincerity by sharing the joy of faith to the people around you and the community.